Automakers are smart to crow when they earn coveted quality awards. But when the hammer comes down--particularly on brand-new vehicles--the results are usually kept a little more quiet.
One of the benchmark studies of new-vehicle quality has been released for the 2011 model year, and this time, J.D. Power's 2011 Initial Quality Study found that the marked progress made in the past four years is over. While the overall number of problems per 100 vehicles fell, the number of problems for brand-new models was higher than usual.
Crossovers and SUVs
While crossovers dominate the shopping lists of American car buyers more than ever, the newest crossovers are experiencing some teething troubles. The problems with the Ford Edge, Ford Explorer and Lincoln MKX were called out in particular by Power--but the Nissan Juke and MINI Countryman also have reason to be concerned, since their low ratings are matched by the low overall rankings of their brands.
Minivans and Pickup Trucks
Utility vehicles often have lower initial quality, because they're made to be more rugged--but buyers tend not to rate them poorly because they expect them to be more basic. It's notable here than none of the brand-new minivans for the 2011 model year--Odyssey, Quest or Sienna--were rated poorly by surveyed owners.
Sports Cars
None of the brand-new sports cars for 2011 were included in the lowest of J.D. Power's initial-quality ratings, but the presence of BMW's Z4 and the Hyundai Genesis Coupe suggests those companies will have to revamp their flagship sporty offerings to continue to build their reputations against the likes of the Ford Mustang and Porsche Boxster.
Sedans and Luxury Sedans
There's trouble in the Power IQS survey for Buick and Audi. The volume sellers for both brands landed squarely at the bottom of this year's initial quality study. Infiniti's M and Jaguar's new XJ also haven't fared well, though the cars have been well-received by the automotive press.
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